What are the requirements for a switch-mode buck converter IC use in a multifunction power management IC?
The IC should be optimized for powering ultra-low voltage circuits operated from a single Li-ion cell or three NiMH batteries. For most applications it should be capable of a 500mA to 1A output. To minimize power drain and conserve battery life, the IC should have some form of power switching at low power, i.e., either PFM (pulse frequency modulation) or pulse skipping. By switching at frequencies from 1MHz and higher, the converter can conserve space by employing small physical size capacitors and inductors.
